Five municipal unions should make this year’s budget season a little peculiar.

Police officers, police sergeants, Public Works employees, firefighters and fire officers are in the midst of bargaining new agreements.

The police contract was the first to be negotiated.

“We have reached a tentative agreement,” Chief Jan Noble said. “The results of that agreement should be announced shortly, but the union first has to vote on it and ratify it. We’ll wait for the union’s decisions.”

Burdick is aware of the city’s financial situation and has been paying attention to its budget discussions.

“The budget has to do with our salaries as well as having to purchase equipment for the city of Belvidere,” he said. “I’ve been paying attention. I’ve been watching.”

Besides new contracts, he and other firefighters would like the city to have its own ambulance service that eventually could generate revenue for Belvidere’s coffers. For now, the city contracts with a private company for ambulance service.